This book arrived in the mail yesterday. I sat down just to look through it (like I always do) and read it straight through. It's the author's debut novel and I can't wait to read her next one! While there's lessons to be learned in this book about a human and his robot, it's also a fun read! I really enjoyed it! ( )

Predictable novel about the relationship between a sentient female robot and her human owner.

Doug owns his cuddle robot, Annie. She’s meant to satisfy his every need as a companion, a housekeeper, and a girlfriend. He trains her to be what he wants and to respond to his moods. Meanwhile, Annie’s AI is developing and changing as her mind expands and grows as she adjusts to life with him and the world she’s allowed to explore.

I enjoyed this well enough until the last part when it went in exactly the direction I was hoping it would not go. So ended up feeling let down despite initial promise that this would be original and unique compared to all the other human and robot books.

The narration was good but the ultimate conclusion disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley for the audiobook to listen to and review. ( )

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC! This was a real surprise! I finished it in a day and really enjoyed the pacing and questions it asked, as well as the descriptive language of Annie experiencing the world around her. I thought it'd be more in depth black mirror episode feeling, but it really was interesting and nuanced. ( )

I don't read much science fiction or fantasy, but from its description, Annie Bot sounded interesting. So I entered a giveway for it, and won.

Annie is a "Cuddle Bunny" model of a "Stella," a female robot optimized for sex. She's also an autodidact. Despite having a pretty decent vocabulary, I had to look that word up. It means she learns on her own, rather than being taught by someone. In other words, she's AI - artificial intelligence.

Her owner is Doug, who bought a Stella and had her customized to resemble his ex-wife. He seems to still be working through some issues from his marriage in his relationship with Annie, whose programming is set to please him. Annie becomes confused and upset when she (usually inadvertently) fails to do so.

Early on in the book, Annie is tempted into doing something that would greatly displease Doug - if he knew about it. She's told (page 26 in the advance reader edition) that "a secret will make you real...a lie will make you real, even if you never have to say it aloud. That'll be nice for Doug, actually."

Trouble is, Doug is a manipulative, self-centered jerk. "'I want you to stand there and think about how you've made me feel,' he says. [on page 60] 'And I feel like shit.'" This when he punishes her by making her stay in her charging dock for a week, while having sex with a second Stella he's purchased - an "Abigail" optimized for cleaning and cooking, things Annie doesn't do very well.

It was fascinating to see how Annie becomes more human as the book continues. I also like how she reads all 783 books (page 152) that he owns - and they become an escape for Annie in her painful relationship with Doug.

Told entirely from Annie's viewpoint, this was a intrigung book from debut author Sierra Greer, with a lot to say about self-awareness and human relationships (including abusive ones), as well as AI. I definitely recommend it, and will likely read it again. ( )